Crusaders battle back to win Irish Premiership title

Summary

Ballymena 1-2 Crusaders
Glenavon 0-0 Coleraine
Linfield 1-2 Cliftonville
Glentoran 1-3 Ballinamallard
Ards 3-4 Dungannon
Warrenpoint 2-3 Carrick

Live Reporting

Michael Morrow and Alvin McCaig

Paul Smyth stars for QPRpublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Former Linfield forward collecteds QPR Young Player of the Year award
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Stephen's switching on for Super Saturdaypublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Glenavon v Coleraine
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Winger Whyte named Ulster Footballer of the Yearpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Crusaders' Gavin Whyte has been named as the Ulster Footballer of the Year.
The winger has scored 21 goals for Stephen Baxter's men in the league - helping them to the top of the table going into the final day of the season.
Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,
Crusaders' Gavin Whyte
Relegation battlepublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Final day match-ups
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Relegation battle
Basement battlepublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Just like the teams at the top, the bottom two read the script last week and ensured that they were neck and neck going into the season's final round of fixtures.
Ballinamallard have occupied 12th place for the vast majority of the season and it looked rather like they were destined for Championship football.
However the Mallards have hit form at just the right time and under the watchful eye of Harry McConkey they're now unbeaten in four, having collected eight points from the last available 12.
Conversely, Carrick lost six games on the trot including a basement battle at Ferney Park to hit the foot of the table with two games remaining.
One down at the Oval last week it looked bleak for the Amber Army, but they turned it around with two second half goals to jump above the Mallards on goal difference.
If Carrick equal or better Ballinamallard's result today, they will go into next week's promotion / relegation play-off against Newry City.
Five years ago Ballinamallard finished the season in fifth place, ahead of Coleraine on goal difference. Funny old game.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Bottom of the Irish Premiership table
Irish Premiership tablepublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Bottom six
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Irish Premiership table - Bottom 6
Irish Premiershippublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Top six
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Image caption,
Irish Premiership - Top 6
Title Racepublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Final day match-ups
Will Ballymena or Glenavon be title party-poopers?
Image source, BBC Sport NI
Image caption,
Top of the table title race
Top of the table battlepublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Irish Premiership:top of the table
The Seasonpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 28 April 2018
by Grant Cameron
The title race is now almost run
We'll soon discover who has it won
Crusaders are leaders with goals galore
Coleraine's defence has sure slammed the door
The twists and the turns have kept us all glued
And just one defeat Coleraine have rued
Those Showgrounds hopefuls first led the way
For 4 long months until New Year's Day
With Heatley and Owens, Forsythe and Whyte
The Seaview squad countered - they were up for the fight
McGonigle, McCauley, they've taken the strain
Keeping pace with the Crues, hoping all's not in vain
So can Baxter's boys complete the task?
Or will Kearney's kids in glory bask?
A nailbiting finale on Sportsound awaits
The mics will be open as we cover their fates
To the Shore Road or Bannside the league crown will go
So tune in and find out on a breathtaking show!
Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,
Action from Crusaders against Coleraine